I posted a reply to a different post here, though the main discussion seems to be here so I'll repost the part that wasn't directly related to that other post.

The problem here is that religion is not built on logic, in fact it is so departed from logic that any attempt to apply logic to religion will fail. Religion is built on faith. It's not about reasoning and logic, it's about accepting that there are some things you cannot answer, that you will instead have to put faith in your deity that despite any inconsistencies you may find or answers you might miss, the world is in order.

This is why it is difficult to "reason with a theist". They have faith that there are indeed answers to any logic you may have, it's just beyond them.

Of course, there are some who simply don't realize that this faith only applies if you are religious already, and can't be used to convert someone who's not. They keep trying to argue with it, and consider their atheist debate partner unintelligent when they don't agree. I never had any particular respect for these people, not even when I was religious myself.

"I see no reason to grant an exception to the requirement of evidence, especially when I am expected to believe in something unknowable and without definition. After all, how could I even know if I believed in this unknowable and undefined entity in the first place?"

There is reason to grant an exception to the requirement of evidence, that reason is every person's right to think and believe whatever he or she wishes to. However, this right is lost the instant they decide to convince anyone else they're right.

If you, the atheist, ask a religious man to justify his religion, he is not required to do so. On the other hand, if the same man asks you to justify your lack of religion (beyond simple curiosity), he is the one who needs to convince you that he's right.

The problem here is that religion is not built on logic, in fact it is so departed from logic that any attempt to apply logic to religion will fail. Religion is built on faith. It's not about reasoning and logic, it's about accepting that there are some things you cannot answer, that you will instead have to put faith in your deity that despite any inconsistencies you may find or answers you might miss, the world is in order.

This is why it is difficult to "reason with a theist". They have faith that there are indeed answers to any logic you may have, it's just beyond them.

Of course, there are some who simply don't realize that this faith only applies if you are religious already, and can't be used to convert someone who's not. They keep trying to argue with it, and consider their atheist debate partner unintelligent when they don't agree. I never had any particular respect for these people, not even when I was religious myself.